Affordable Care Act less than a week away

3 years ago

(Cleveland) - The health insurance industry is about to go through a significant change.

The Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, goes into effect on October 1st.

Greg Young is Director of Strategic Initiatives with Medical Mutual of Ohio. Young says it's been hard work paging through the complex law.

"Thousands of pages, you know, when we're talking about reading the law, and we've had regulations that qualify that law, 20,000 to 25,000 pages," says Young.

Under the Affordable Care Act, every American will be obligated to buy health insurance. Young says low-income Americans will be a group that will benefit from the law.

"If they're beneath 400 percent of the federal poverty level, they're going to qualify for a subsidy to help them purchase this health insurance," says Young.

Young adults with little or no health problems may see their coverage costs go up, while older adults with pre-existing conditions will see their costs go down. Pre-existing conditions will no longer be taken into account for insurance qualifications.

Another concern with the Affordable Care Act is possible lay-offs for health-care workers.

Last week Cleveland Clinic announced over 3,000 employees could be let go as a result of the law.

The law takes effect next month, but the entire law won't take effect until January 2014.